I agree! Minimized my possessions and now makes cleaning easier. Also, a place for everything and everything in its place , makes it so much easier to put things away. This has been a 3 year conscious journey of decluttering. Sometimes I get distracted and buy stuff I do mot need …but I catch myself much faster. Love you video.
Here's one - you have no money and you can't figure out why. You have too much stuff and you still buy more. You need to figure out how to stop buying or it will never change - it will just be DIFFERENT stuff. You need to figure out that buying stuff won't fill the void in your life.
Wow! Hands down, THE BEST decluttering video ever!! I have never seen such a comprehensive listing of clutter before. I thought I was doing well on my decluttering journey, but you have shone a light on areas I obviously still need to work on. Thank you so very much, Mia! Much appreciated!!
It takes time, but you can do it! Start with 5 minutes per day, or pick one category of items. Grab a trash bag and a donation box. I like to have videos like these playing while I decluttering. Oh, and take before and after photos of every space...room, drawer, cabinet, etc.
Sometimes, if you’re too close to an issue, or too personally involved it can be super overwhelming. If you can, you might try seeking out the help of a professional organizer. I did a couple of consulting appointments with one and that helped me get the ball rolling in my own life. The important thing is to do something-and not to ignore the situation because you’re paralyzed by it, or else in 6 months you’ll still be stuck. Wishing you success!
I started with the closet in our spare bed room. I cleaned it out, and loaded it with toilet tissue rolls, and paper towels, can't have to much of that and it keeps me from sticking more stuff in there I will have to clean out later. Never had a place or pantry to put those big 12 packs n e way. It was a start for me. Saves picking up some weekly, when I don't need to go to the store. I now go shopping once a month. Keep on hand what you use, let the other stuff go to someone that can. Make 3 boxes 1 donate, 2 trash, and 3 keep. Then make a place for everything in the keep pile.
Try picking just a couple of the items mentioned in this video a day/week. I'm the same way. At work ready to go home and tackle the world. Or maybe just declutter the kitchen today.
just as a random tip to all follow minimalists, some things i decluttered recently: - the toys my pets don’t play with anymore - light bulbs that don’t fit any of my lamps - fuses. 2 years ago the landlord installed switches instead of the screw in fuses - batteries in sizes that don’t fit of my things like AAAA or 9V - fridge magnets - excess cloths or ragged up cloths for cleaning - old university stuff - excess post its - baking forms in shapes (teddybear, heart)
I randomly found this older video of yours and started declutterring as I was watching in my bedroom. I DEFINITELY have TOO much stuff and will continue to declutter. Thanks for the motivation.
Here's a few more: If you never file your taxes until April 14 or later, clutter may be a contributing factor. If your kid ever missed a field trip because you lost the permission slip. If there is an odd smell in your house and you can't find the source. If your kids are always complaining they have nothing to play with, but their rooms are full of toys, they may have too many toys to find the ones they really love and too little space to use them. If you never practice your hobby, because it would require clearing a space first. If you have more than one appliance or tech device you aren't using because you can't locate the charger. If you never open your curtains, because you don't want the mail carrier to see inside. If you've decided against a weekend getaway because packing seemed like too much trouble. If you wish you could cook healthier food more often, but you don't have enough counter space and can't locate the tools and pans you need.
Over the last couple years I feel like I’ve made a lot of headway, and very few of these apply to my home anymore, but I still find myself “information hoarding” and I didn’t completely understand why. Dana K White talks about clutter threshold, and even though we’ve pared down and everything has a home and is easy to put away and later find I still get those feelings of overwhelm. I’m realizing that what’s not too much for other people may still be too much for me. This video is helping me decide not to settle for “good enough” and keep going. Thank you!
Fighting the urge to fill empty spaces has worked for me. I find that having a void in some areas, ie, my kitchen countertops makes my kitchen look clean and neat. Putting everything under my sink except my knife set gives me more room to prep and it takes seconds to clean because I don’t have to remove items first to wipe my countertops off. ☺️ 💕 ☮️ 💫
As someone who is in the process of moving, I definitely have too much stuff. I'm going to try to declutter as I pack and hopefully start a minimal lifestyle.
Hi, I used to have too much stuff! Watching this video made me feel good because I’ve taken care of most of these issues. I do watch a lot of reorganizing posts, but I’m implementing them to my current situation. Thank you very much for making this video. It has given me encouragement to keep going!
I watched a third of the way through and then started over writing down every one except the kids' toys until I realized I have my own "toys". At least I'm not guilty of wanting more surfaces to put things on, too many options and renting storage facilities. Otherwise I am guilty of the other 47. Thank you so much, Mia. I love your videos but this one really hit home with me.
I thought there was no way you'd have 50(!) good quality bits of info on this list and I was pleasantly surprised. Really great content and it gave me some things to think but overall your list made me realize I'm doing better than I thought I was. :)
Okay, you got me on the baggie of extra screws and nails! I also have a small bin of old unfinished sewing projects on the floor next to my sewing machine. Been working on discarding a lot in 2021 and this is the last of the piled stuff. This was on point and a fun list to go through 😁
Thank you for your video! I started minimalism about 3 yrs ago cleaned out our house , noticing now husband and daughter are realizing less is better it’s taken awhile but we are getting there my issue right now is crafts 🙃 I hate to part with my needlepoints and cross stitching I have bags of threads for them, I haven’t touched them in 3 yrs ! That should tell me something right? Well today they are going to be donated ! I did get into knitting and I love it !😍. I have made preemie baby hats/booties for the hospital. Scarfs/ shawls for friends etc But your right keep what makes you happy and let the other things that stress you go! Thanks
I stumbled onto your channel and literally one of the best decluttering videos EVER! My favorite, watching videos on decluttering but never actually decluttering. Brilliant!
Agree with almost all except the box of nails and such we save up in a wooden box in our tool space all extra screws, bolts, and other similar items for when we do projects which happen often, and can't even count the many times this has saved us a trip to a store. Thankfully though everyone in our household understands the importance of empty space and mess free living so a lot of these we've been living with for many years. 💛
How DARE you so sweetly drag me through the mud. 😂😋🙃 Man…… before I even watched, the title prompted guilty laughter. 😅 Thank you for the conviction. 😘
Good day. I open & put the same flavor sauce packets into a small used glass spice jar. This way, we use it instead of throwing them away. We keep this in the refrigerator. We keep our shredder next to recycle & trash bin. This way, we handle our mail as soon as we get it so we no longer have paper mail clutter. Thanks for your ideas. They come in handy.
There might be one other one: If you can't fully open any door in your house because of the amount of clothes, bags etc hanging on the special "over- hangers". Have seen that with my aunt. Thankfully I have decluttered my and her house. My pressing challenge now is dropping sugar, gluten and grains... I'll try to take encouragement from the successful decluttering. I have grown to really like your videos Mia. I like the 'mental' approach and how you break things down. Every success in your decluttering business. G Ire
I agree, but I just got a house with a basement and it's a game changer to have these storage shelves I just put up. Back when I was at my parents, they had 4 kids and there was always a clutter issue, but they never had a basement and we had toys and did fun things with stuff so a big part of it is space and storage. Lots of good points though.
Why is downsizing t-shirts so difficult? Does anyone else have this issue? I’ll wear them all (eventually). 😬 Pointers needed! That’s the “drawer that is difficult to close”. 🥴
Try them on and get rid of the ones you don't love. Life's too short to be dealing with stuff you don't really care for. When they wear out, you replace with another really great t-shirt.
If they're in wearable, no stains, no holes condition, I've found the ones we wear most. If I don't wear them in 2 laundry cycles, or one month, they're donated. I gave them away for free on Facebook along with boxes of my other stuff. Anything with damage, I group together and specify that it is for upcyclers + practice sewists. People who love making t-shirt yarn and stuff, where that doesn't matter.
You may already have downsized, but if you or someone else reading this still need any pointers, I recently decluttered some of my closet and drawers. If it was something I had multiples of in the same style (like Tshirts), I narrowed it down by favorite fit/fabrics/images, and then by color. Like if I had 6 shirts in the same style that were all a shade of green, which ones didn't look as good on? And also for Tshirts specifically, if they had images/words of places I had never been/ bands I no longer listened to/groups I was no longer a part of.
Addition: you've got so many dishes and pots and pans that you can go through a whole week of cooking without ever doing any washing up - and then you've got so many dirty dishes that you don't want to enter the kitchen ever again. (I'm not allowed to declutter the kitchen. I occasionally move stuff around, but the problem stays.) For other shared rooms and my own room none of your signs applied, actually, and I'm kind of proud of that. But the kitchen, the attic an my S.O.s room.... Oh dear.
When you have a lot of clothes like me doesn't mean perse that you can't find anything. It ask for a good and neat organisation. I know exactly what I have and where it is.
I do love a lot of these - but can I point out that not all of them are necessarily due to too much stuff. As a renter, most rental properties are not designed with built ins for storage, nor even with reasonable storage in mind. And they're small. That can def explain some of these symptoms. 😊
A couple of hot sauce packages from Taco Bell in the fridge because it sucks when you get home an see they didn't put any sauce in you bag even though you asked for it.
I moved to a new town 2 years ago & still have tons of boxes in my home & garage. Time to declutter!! If I haven't used/missed these items, I don't need them!
Excellent video. My wife heard this technique for children’s toys: our two girls had a plastic turtle toy box plus toys all over the place. We boxed up half the toys, stored them in the attic and only had the turtle toy box. Then every 4 to 6 months we switched out the toys except for a couple SPECIAL ONES. Then when the girls got home they reacted like they received a bunch of new toys without us having to buy new ones. After a couple months if they start getting bored with them just do the Switcheroo! But eventually they catch on so THEN you have to buy a few new toys.
Nope, sorry. I'll never give up my hardware collection. My husband just used a couple screws the other day from it. It takes up a 12" by 16" organizer box--but boy does it come in handy when you don't have to got to the hardware to find something.
I realised I had too much stuff when I couldn’t get anything else into my junk drawer, so it turned into a junk room!! Then I made another junk drawer in a different room, and, well, you know what happened 🥴 I’ve been “spring cleaning” since last year 😱
You have two VERY LARGE Amazon shipping boxes of mail, junk mail, etc. that took 3 days to sort through means you had too much stuff. That was my problem when I finally got settled this fall after a 3 month hospital/nursing home stay. It's getting better every day, but the filing cabinet still needs work. My septic tank backed up and I had to clean out my closet, so those things need to be sorted and put away, donated or repaired if I'm keeping them. I am taking a "vacation" until next Wednesday due to Christmas and will return to the clean up job. Thanks for this video and your channel.
Oh wow, that IS a lot of stuff! Way to power through Karen 💪 Enjoy a nice break over the holidays, you've been busy + deserve it! Thank you for continuing to share your thoughts here on my TH-cam channel! I see you've been very busy watching tons of videos and getting value from them 🤗
I need to go through the attic and my computer, let alone finding homes for things And sometimes the trouble is while I don’t have the perfect stuff (outfits that I’d consider A-game), I can’t get rid of the b and c level because of money. Another thing is family members don’t see the point in my decluttering. While I’m saving for bigger goals, they spend anytime something is on sale. I understand they have to buy when somethings low cuz granted, we’re not rich, but it seems so wasteful to me. I’d rather save a little more and buy exactly what I need.
I agree. I think it's a mindset shift when it comes to buying higher quality (which can sometimes feel painful in the moment) vs. buying *more*. I used to love the thrift hauls just because it felt like I was saving so much money but now I just spend more on fewer things.
Thanks! I’m Inspired! Not being able to use my spaces, no workable surface and feeling Overwhelmed was an eye-opener for me. Reality Check… tripping over stuff that I was thinking that I would, could, might need or use Someday.
Ouch, You are stepping on my toes. I am on a line between pairing down my possessions and a need for preparedness. My goal would be to have an abundance of basic items that are needed and used. For example, I make some of my own cleaning supplies so I have extra white vinegar, baking soda,alcohol , borax, and washing soda but I don't have many one-trick pony cleaning or kitchen devices. I do have a lot of things that I upgraded and kept the old ones they are leaving TODAY.
When you don’t have WHAT you need, WHERE you need it, WHEN you need it. Such as: toilet paper refill near the toilet because your bathroom vanity is too full, so it’s stored someplace else; or you have to leave a new roll just sitting on the floor. Or a selection of band-aids in the medicine cabinet for the occasional cut, because your medicine cabinets are full of outdated stuff. These are both things I have experienced recently in other peoples places who definitely have too much clutter and no sense of organization. Great video! (And totally off-topic, but you really look like Mandy Moore to me, lol.)
Love! Love! Love this video... Reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be a Redneck" I'll be sharing this video with family and friends... Love your videos, Mia.
Love your content! - Found you late 2021 and have made HUGE improvements in my home while I watch all your previous content and always look forward to seeing you post more!! Thank you for all the work and time these videos must be! Your efforts are needed and appreciated by so many! ❤️
🤦🏽♀️I am guilty of too many of these things on your list 😂. I kept all the boxes of the Apple products I’ve purchased. Do I really need to keep them ?
Wow!! As a mama of 7 kiddos, I was shocked that none of these are true in my life!🙌 I guess that goes to show that anyone can be minimal! Only maybe as an exception...a couple of my kids have more toys than they play with...but that is for them to declutter!😉 I can only gently nudge them. 😁 (I find that most "moms of many" swing wide on either drowning in stuff or easily minimalist) As a visual learner myself, it has been a matter of sanity😜😂 to keep minimal with so many kids! This was a fantastic list that I hope to come back to to keep myself in check with stuff! Thank you!
Thank you. This and one of your other talks gave me a good understanding of why people save things. I'm a born collector which I think isn't so bad but I also accumulate things like junk mail that I don't want but don't know throw away. I suppose I think I'll look at it later/see if it's of any use, but I never do that and there it sits. Because I don't save such items because I want them, I don't think this constitutes real hoarding but I'm not clear on how hoarding is defined. I suppose people who are serious collectors tend to need space that others don't. Due to lack of money, there are probably lots of collectors who can't afford to house their treasures to their best advantage. I appreciate it that you share your understanding and insights on this topic. Best wishes.
Great video! I had funny counting with you to see how I was doing. I did well. I still struggle with mail, a few corner piles and boxes in attic that I don't know whats in them. So now with that info I will concentrate on those items. Thank you.
Thanks for this upload. More than a few items on your List definitely apply to me for both my home abroad and my home back in The States. I do enjoy a healthy obsession with decorative pillows 🤣, and do need to move a couple aside if several guests require use of my livingroom sectional...I do have decorative pillows on my beds, but they are not placed on the floor when preparing for bed...Thankfully, they do have a dedicated home, so there aren't any accidents at night 🤗...I'm WAY GUILTY on the "haven't used" items on your List; however, I live and work 11 months out of a year outside of The States, so all of my holiday decor and seasonal clothing back there isn't currently in play, but I believe I will use them again once I am back in my home country...While I am nowhere near being a minimalist, I have a great appreciation for the underlying philosophy and have intentionally decluttered, sold, gave away, and/or donated items that I know I'll never use again or that no longer brings me joy 😁
This was excellent! Clutter (my late father’s, and my partner and his teenage son) stresses me out. I can’t wait to move from my house to my own one-bdrm apartment. Already making a list of what I’m taking, room by room.
I feel like you are talking to me. I feel so guilty. Of all 50!! I know I need to change. I’m going to let go of things I don’t use. I have three blender and I only use one, one was a wedding present that I really love, and the other one my friend gave it to me it’s hard to let go! Or give it away and my daughter gave me a ninja blender for Mother’s Day. So sentimental about them and I only use one. Listening to you it’s time to let go of things I don’t use. So thank you so much for helping me and others. 😘 Now you win a follower.
Your hair looks gorgeous! 🤩 Anyway, it seems I definitely have too much stuff! Shoving things into overfilled drawers, so relatable! 🤣 I'm working on decluttering.
I've struggled with this all my life. There's been some improvement but still a long way to go. It's overwhelming and emotionally painful at times I've often thought I may be ADHD.
Very good content & all spot on. Admitting I'm guilty of a few of them and it may be time to declutter a couple of areas. Really like your top, very nice color, it looks good on you & with your hair!
Love your video!!! I used to hoard furniture for a while; but. I discovered a great way to let go. A desk with a flip top I didn’t get to, went to a young single mom with a daughter. I painted the desk white, and then she could decorate the desk with whatever she wanted. She made it her own & it forged a friendship by building a bridge with something someone needed!
Here are my three…… 1. Easily lose things in PLAIN SIGHT (even if I just had it in my hand a minute ago) 2. Often setting things aside to do later….for FAR too long 3. INTENDED use of a space has turned into storage These three things are probably just specific things of more vague examples she gave in her list…..but they are specifically true for me lol
My Name is Katherine Meid. from Antioch Califorina. Yes eveything u said about moving things around coughing and asthimia Thats me it hits home your right kmeid
I have 2 large dog beds and 3 smaller dog beds on the living room floor! They are for my 8 dogs plus 1 foster dog. And I have almost no wall space due to all the family photos. But these don't bother me. My guest room being used as an extra storage is my current decluttering project.
Luckily I don't have a house I'm only 17 soon to be 18 and I declutter my room every week I'm very organized, tidy and keep on top of everything from financial to physical but I still feel like I have too much stuff even though all I have in my room furniture wise is my bed, chest of drawers and my stand for my TV with some DVDs and books underneath. I do have a wardrobe which was a cupboard in our hallway but we transformed it into a wardrobe so I could have space as a child. This was done when I was like 6/7 so over 10 years ago. However I feel like the drawers under my bed and the shelves I have to hide stuff behind my clothes rail in my cupboard stores sentimental things or games I store or can't get rid of. I really need to get rid of them and this really helps me so thank you! And thank you to everyone else. I'm so glad I'm not the only one💗
I think that it's amazing that you have such an interest in your space already! That didn't come to me until much later but I can imagine the awesome space you're going to have when you someday have your own place ❤️
Well watching this video make me see that I am almost there! 😀 I need to take care of my clothes and books and my niece’s toys. I do not have kids so my niece has a room in the house and it is very difficult for me to declutter toys because she wants to keep everything. Now I am using the keep away strategy! 😊 I put them away and if she does not ask for it in let see 2 to four months then I give them away. 😊
Before the Chinese New Year, I threw away and gave away a lot of my old stuff. I always have this in my mind that somewhere somehow, someone will come across my things and they might find value in them. This thought always makes me not regret to let go of things I don't use anymore. One man's garbage is another man's treasure, so they say.
I have too many things, but so far everything I've saved "just in case", I've used it. So that's a dilemma for me, because I don't want to have clutter but I don't want to have to constantly buy the same thing...
Hmm..i suddenly want to organize the sh*t out of my house..lol..id consideryself somewhat of a minimalist but the one about having to try on clothes ,dont know if they fit well hits home( single guy go figure ;). Its an issue, been needing to unload old non fitting pieces and go clothes shopping to refresh my options for some time now. Today may be that day, thx for the reminders...im a new sub now 😉👌
Clutter...or undiagnosed adult ADHD....turns out that was my issue, once the ADHD is addressed progress starts to happen in so many other areas including clutter.
I cleared out my closet and dresser 2 years ago. I was so proud of myself and it felt so good knowing that anything I pulled out of my closet would fit without a thought. I now need to get my products listed before my husband declares me a hoarder and brings in a therapist.
When you know a video applies to you before hitting play 🥴
Lol same
🤣
Lol--oh yeah
I may have *HIT* play a little harder than necessary. 👊🏻😂
Right 😂🤣!
When something breaks and you feel relieved instead of upset. Because… now you can throw it away and you don’t have to figure out what to do with it!
I agree! Minimized my possessions and now makes cleaning easier. Also, a place for everything and everything in its place , makes it so much easier to put things away. This has been a 3 year conscious journey of decluttering. Sometimes I get distracted and buy stuff I do mot need …but I catch myself much faster. Love you video.
Thank you Luisa 🥰
A conscious 3-year journey can change so much! Great job 😍
Here's one - you have no money and you can't figure out why. You have too much stuff and you still buy more. You need to figure out how to stop buying or it will never change - it will just be DIFFERENT stuff. You need to figure out that buying stuff won't fill the void in your life.
Wow! Hands down, THE BEST decluttering video ever!! I have never seen such a comprehensive listing of clutter before. I thought I was doing well on my decluttering journey, but you have shone a light on areas I obviously still need to work on. Thank you so very much, Mia! Much appreciated!!
Wow, thank you so much!! Glad you enjoyed it :)
I agree 100% !!
So many of these are things that happen for people with adhd - so any adhders out there, don't beat yourself up if many of these hit home!
Thank you! I purge my stuff regularly. There is more than enough space in my house... But I still have doom piles and cluttered surfaces.
So, I’m legit guilty of all 50 of these 🙇🏼♀️ This hit hard 🥺 Feeling pretty overwhelmed on how to fix this massive problem!
Well, take a breath and break it down a bit. You can't do it all at once so don't let that overwhelm you 👊
It takes time, but you can do it! Start with 5 minutes per day, or pick one category of items. Grab a trash bag and a donation box. I like to have videos like these playing while I decluttering. Oh, and take before and after photos of every space...room, drawer, cabinet, etc.
Sometimes, if you’re too close to an issue, or too personally involved it can be super overwhelming. If you can, you might try seeking out the help of a professional organizer. I did a couple of consulting appointments with one and that helped me get the ball rolling in my own life. The important thing is to do something-and not to ignore the situation because you’re paralyzed by it, or else in 6 months you’ll still be stuck. Wishing you success!
I started with the closet in our spare bed room. I cleaned it out, and loaded it with toilet tissue rolls, and paper towels, can't have to much of that and it keeps me from sticking more stuff in there I will have to clean out later. Never had a place or pantry to put those big 12 packs n e way. It was a start for me. Saves picking up some weekly, when I don't need to go to the store. I now go shopping once a month. Keep on hand what you use, let the other stuff go to someone that can. Make 3 boxes 1 donate, 2 trash, and 3 keep. Then make a place for everything in the keep pile.
Try picking just a couple of the items mentioned in this video a day/week. I'm the same way. At work ready to go home and tackle the world. Or maybe just declutter the kitchen today.
just as a random tip to all follow minimalists, some things i decluttered recently:
- the toys my pets don’t play with anymore
- light bulbs that don’t fit any of my lamps
- fuses. 2 years ago the landlord installed switches instead of the screw in fuses
- batteries in sizes that don’t fit of my things like AAAA or 9V
- fridge magnets
- excess cloths or ragged up cloths for cleaning
- old university stuff
- excess post its
- baking forms in shapes (teddybear, heart)
I randomly found this older video of yours and started declutterring as I was watching in my bedroom. I DEFINITELY have TOO much stuff and will continue to declutter. Thanks for the motivation.
Here's a few more: If you never file your taxes until April 14 or later, clutter may be a contributing factor. If your kid ever missed a field trip because you lost the permission slip. If there is an odd smell in your house and you can't find the source. If your kids are always complaining they have nothing to play with, but their rooms are full of toys, they may have too many toys to find the ones they really love and too little space to use them. If you never practice your hobby, because it would require clearing a space first. If you have more than one appliance or tech device you aren't using because you can't locate the charger. If you never open your curtains, because you don't want the mail carrier to see inside. If you've decided against a weekend getaway because packing seemed like too much trouble. If you wish you could cook healthier food more often, but you don't have enough counter space and can't locate the tools and pans you need.
Good additions! I almost did the "weird smell" one too 😊
WOW!!!! your secondary list hit me harder
Great list!
I knew I had too much stuff before even watching this video, but after answering “yes,” to the first five questions I realized I had a problem. 😩
Over the last couple years I feel like I’ve made a lot of headway, and very few of these apply to my home anymore, but I still find myself “information hoarding” and I didn’t completely understand why. Dana K White talks about clutter threshold, and even though we’ve pared down and everything has a home and is easy to put away and later find I still get those feelings of overwhelm. I’m realizing that what’s not too much for other people may still be too much for me. This video is helping me decide not to settle for “good enough” and keep going. Thank you!
I'm so glad you found it helpful and it's so true that "enough" is different for everyone 💕
Fighting the urge to fill empty spaces has worked for me. I find that having a void in some areas, ie, my kitchen countertops makes my kitchen look clean and neat. Putting everything under my sink except my knife set gives me more room to prep and it takes seconds to clean because I don’t have to remove items first to wipe my countertops off. ☺️ 💕 ☮️ 💫
As someone who is in the process of moving, I definitely have too much stuff. I'm going to try to declutter as I pack and hopefully start a minimal lifestyle.
Honestly, that's the best time. SO much easier when you're already going through the stuff
Hi, I used to have too much stuff! Watching this video made me feel good because I’ve taken care of most of these issues. I do watch a lot of reorganizing posts, but I’m implementing them to my current situation. Thank you very much for making this video. It has given me encouragement to keep going!
I'm so glad!
I watched a third of the way through and then started over writing down every one except the kids' toys until I realized I have my own "toys". At least I'm not guilty of wanting more surfaces to put things on, too many options and renting storage facilities. Otherwise I am guilty of the other 47. Thank you so much, Mia. I love your videos but this one really hit home with me.
Haha! Well, good, I'm glad you liked it!
I thought there was no way you'd have 50(!) good quality bits of info on this list and I was pleasantly surprised. Really great content and it gave me some things to think but overall your list made me realize I'm doing better than I thought I was. :)
Well, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. It sounds like you're doing pretty good ✅
I use to relate to a lot of these signs, since last year I have gotten rid of most of it, it feels really nice now.
Taking stuff to donation centers feels really good !
Okay, you got me on the baggie of extra screws and nails! I also have a small bin of old unfinished sewing projects on the floor next to my sewing machine. Been working on discarding a lot in 2021 and this is the last of the piled stuff.
This was on point and a fun list to go through 😁
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for your video! I started minimalism about 3 yrs ago cleaned out our house , noticing now husband and daughter are realizing less is better it’s taken awhile but we are getting there my issue right now is crafts 🙃 I hate to part with my needlepoints and cross stitching I have bags of threads for them, I haven’t touched them in 3 yrs ! That should tell me something right? Well today they are going to be donated !
I did get into knitting and I love it !😍. I have made preemie baby hats/booties for the hospital. Scarfs/ shawls for friends etc
But your right keep what makes you happy and let the other things that stress you go!
Thanks
I stumbled onto your channel and literally one of the best decluttering videos EVER! My favorite, watching videos on decluttering but never actually decluttering. Brilliant!
Yay! Thank you!
Agree with almost all except the box of nails and such we save up in a wooden box in our tool space all extra screws, bolts, and other similar items for when we do projects which happen often, and can't even count the many times this has saved us a trip to a store. Thankfully though everyone in our household understands the importance of empty space and mess free living so a lot of these we've been living with for many years. 💛
I've heard people talk about stapling the extra pieces to the bottom of the piece of furniture that they go with and I think that sounds genius!
@@MiaDanielle I do this with warranties, building manuals and such I put them in a ziplock bag and tape or stapple to the original piece.
How DARE you so sweetly drag me through the mud.
😂😋🙃
Man…… before I even watched, the title prompted guilty laughter. 😅
Thank you for the conviction. 😘
Good day. I open & put the same flavor sauce packets into a small used glass spice jar. This way, we use it instead of throwing them away. We keep this in the refrigerator. We keep our shredder next to recycle & trash bin. This way, we handle our mail as soon as we get it so we no longer have paper mail clutter. Thanks for your ideas. They come in handy.
Great ideas and thanks for watching!
There might be one other one:
If you can't fully open any door in your house because of the amount of clothes, bags etc hanging on the special "over- hangers". Have seen that with my aunt.
Thankfully I have decluttered my and her house. My pressing challenge now is dropping sugar, gluten and grains... I'll try to take encouragement from the successful decluttering.
I have grown to really like your videos Mia. I like the 'mental' approach and how you break things down. Every success in your decluttering business. G Ire
I agree, but I just got a house with a basement and it's a game changer to have these storage shelves I just put up. Back when I was at my parents, they had 4 kids and there was always a clutter issue, but they never had a basement and we had toys and did fun things with stuff so a big part of it is space and storage. Lots of good points though.
Why is downsizing t-shirts so difficult? Does anyone else have this issue? I’ll wear them all (eventually). 😬 Pointers needed! That’s the “drawer that is difficult to close”. 🥴
Force yourself to wear them for a few weeks and see which ones you dread wearing or don't enjoy once they're on!
Try them on and get rid of the ones you don't love. Life's too short to be dealing with stuff you don't really care for. When they wear out, you replace with another really great t-shirt.
Both great ideas! I’m starting tomorrow morning. I am resolved to conquer this drawer! Thank you both!
If they're in wearable, no stains, no holes condition, I've found the ones we wear most. If I don't wear them in 2 laundry cycles, or one month, they're donated. I gave them away for free on Facebook along with boxes of my other stuff. Anything with damage, I group together and specify that it is for upcyclers + practice sewists. People who love making t-shirt yarn and stuff, where that doesn't matter.
You may already have downsized, but if you or someone else reading this still need any pointers, I recently decluttered some of my closet and drawers. If it was something I had multiples of in the same style (like Tshirts), I narrowed it down by favorite fit/fabrics/images, and then by color. Like if I had 6 shirts in the same style that were all a shade of green, which ones didn't look as good on? And also for Tshirts specifically, if they had images/words of places I had never been/ bands I no longer listened to/groups I was no longer a part of.
It's like she has x-ray vision and can see into my home!
Hahaha 😂
Addition: you've got so many dishes and pots and pans that you can go through a whole week of cooking without ever doing any washing up - and then you've got so many dirty dishes that you don't want to enter the kitchen ever again. (I'm not allowed to declutter the kitchen. I occasionally move stuff around, but the problem stays.)
For other shared rooms and my own room none of your signs applied, actually, and I'm kind of proud of that. But the kitchen, the attic an my S.O.s room.... Oh dear.
So true!
Yes yes yes that’s all me
Yep, I have too much stuff!
When you have a lot of clothes like me doesn't mean perse that you can't find anything. It ask for a good and neat organisation. I know exactly what I have and where it is.
I do love a lot of these - but can I point out that not all of them are necessarily due to too much stuff. As a renter, most rental properties are not designed with built ins for storage, nor even with reasonable storage in mind. And they're small. That can def explain some of these symptoms. 😊
A couple of hot sauce packages from Taco Bell in the fridge because it sucks when you get home an see they didn't put any sauce in you bag even though you asked for it.
I moved to a new town 2 years ago & still have tons of boxes in my home & garage. Time to declutter!! If I haven't used/missed these items, I don't need them!
they all hit home!! think it's time to do something about it.
I love those deciding moments :)
Excellent video. My wife heard this technique for children’s toys: our two girls had a plastic turtle toy box plus toys all over the place. We boxed up half the toys, stored them in the attic and only had the turtle toy box. Then every 4 to 6 months we switched out the toys except for a couple SPECIAL ONES. Then when the girls got home they reacted like they received a bunch of new toys without us having to buy new ones. After a couple months if they start getting bored with them just do the Switcheroo! But eventually they catch on so THEN you have to buy a few new toys.
Nope, sorry. I'll never give up my hardware collection. My husband just used a couple screws the other day from it. It takes up a 12" by 16" organizer box--but boy does it come in handy when you don't have to got to the hardware to find something.
I realised I had too much stuff when I couldn’t get anything else into my junk drawer, so it turned into a junk room!! Then I made another junk drawer in a different room, and, well, you know what happened 🥴 I’ve been “spring cleaning” since last year 😱
Oh no!
@@MiaDanielle ..😂 it’s all good, I’ve come across things I’d forgotten I had.
You have two VERY LARGE Amazon shipping boxes of mail, junk mail, etc. that took 3 days to sort through means you had too much stuff. That was my problem when I finally got settled this fall after a 3 month hospital/nursing home stay. It's getting better every day, but the filing cabinet still needs work. My septic tank backed up and I had to clean out my closet, so those things need to be sorted and put away, donated or repaired if I'm keeping them. I am taking a "vacation" until next Wednesday due to Christmas and will return to the clean up job.
Thanks for this video and your channel.
Oh wow, that IS a lot of stuff! Way to power through Karen 💪 Enjoy a nice break over the holidays, you've been busy + deserve it!
Thank you for continuing to share your thoughts here on my TH-cam channel! I see you've been very busy watching tons of videos and getting value from them 🤗
I stopped counting at 50. Could have added more but I already knew I have too much stuff.
Mike drop...are you in my head and house? Oh my goodness you are so right you hit each nail on the head!
I'm glad you could relate!
Spot On! I would add if your refrigerator is covered in stuff!
So true, I can’t stand having anything on my fridge!
Ya know I could handle being called out on a few things but damn over half... OK fine thanks I get the sign
I need to go through the attic and my computer, let alone finding homes for things
And sometimes the trouble is while I don’t have the perfect stuff (outfits that I’d consider A-game), I can’t get rid of the b and c level because of money. Another thing is family members don’t see the point in my decluttering. While I’m saving for bigger goals, they spend anytime something is on sale. I understand they have to buy when somethings low cuz granted, we’re not rich, but it seems so wasteful to me. I’d rather save a little more and buy exactly what I need.
I agree. I think it's a mindset shift when it comes to buying higher quality (which can sometimes feel painful in the moment) vs. buying *more*. I used to love the thrift hauls just because it felt like I was saving so much money but now I just spend more on fewer things.
Thanks! I’m Inspired! Not being able to use my spaces, no workable surface and feeling Overwhelmed was an eye-opener for me. Reality Check… tripping over stuff that I was thinking that I would, could, might need or use Someday.
Ouch, You are stepping on my toes. I am on a line between pairing down my possessions and a need for preparedness. My goal would be to have an abundance of basic items that are needed and used. For example, I make some of my own cleaning supplies so I have extra white vinegar, baking soda,alcohol , borax, and washing soda but I don't have many one-trick pony cleaning or kitchen devices. I do have a lot of things that I upgraded and kept the old ones they are leaving TODAY.
When you don’t have WHAT you need, WHERE you need it, WHEN you need it. Such as: toilet paper refill near the toilet because your bathroom vanity is too full, so it’s stored someplace else; or you have to leave a new roll just sitting on the floor. Or a selection of band-aids in the medicine cabinet for the occasional cut, because your medicine cabinets are full of outdated stuff. These are both things I have experienced recently in other peoples places who definitely have too much clutter and no sense of organization. Great video! (And totally off-topic, but you really look like Mandy Moore to me, lol.)
Great points! I've also experienced that when visiting people and it does seem unnecessary (also, thanks for the Mandy Moore compliment!)
Love! Love! Love this video... Reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be a Redneck" I'll be sharing this video with family and friends... Love your videos, Mia.
Love your content! - Found you late 2021 and have made HUGE improvements in my home while I watch all your previous content and always look forward to seeing you post more!! Thank you for all the work and time these videos must be! Your efforts are needed and appreciated by so many! ❤️
Thank you so much for this message ❤️ I appreciate it and am glad that you're finding value in the content :)
This 2022, I learned about this minimalism decluttering and save money and I really love it ❤
🤦🏽♀️I am guilty of too many of these things on your list 😂. I kept all the boxes of the Apple products I’ve purchased. Do I really need to keep them ?
Yes this is so true and encouraging. Less is better.
Wow!! As a mama of 7 kiddos, I was shocked that none of these are true in my life!🙌 I guess that goes to show that anyone can be minimal! Only maybe as an exception...a couple of my kids have more toys than they play with...but that is for them to declutter!😉 I can only gently nudge them. 😁 (I find that most "moms of many" swing wide on either drowning in stuff or easily minimalist) As a visual learner myself, it has been a matter of sanity😜😂 to keep minimal with so many kids!
This was a fantastic list that I hope to come back to to keep myself in check with stuff! Thank you!
I love that you shared this because that IS a common belief that people have- "I can't because I have kids"
@@MiaDanielle yes if have adhd or asd with executive dysfunction and have kids its nearly impossible
Wow, this is my life and I need to get out of it!
You've got this!
Thanks. I do feel overwhelmed when someone comes visit me. But it is because they always want to get my stuff to take home.
Yes to almost everything! I am on a mission in 2022!
How exciting! 🎉
Me too!! We can do it!!
Yikes, yes to all of them.
Thank you.
This and one of your other talks gave me a good understanding of why people save things.
I'm a born collector which I think isn't so bad but I also accumulate things like junk mail that I don't want but don't know throw away. I suppose I think I'll look at it later/see if it's of any use, but I never do that and there it sits.
Because I don't save such items because I want them, I don't think this constitutes real hoarding but I'm not clear on how hoarding is defined.
I suppose people who are serious collectors tend to need space that others don't. Due to lack of money, there are probably lots of collectors who can't afford to house their treasures to their best advantage.
I appreciate it that you share your understanding and insights on this topic.
Best wishes.
I think you were a fly on my wall...Holy Chaos ..All apply..I need help or a boot in the butt to get motivated.
Great video! I had funny counting with you to see how I was doing. I did well. I still struggle with mail, a few corner piles and boxes in attic that I don't know whats in them. So now with that info I will concentrate on those items. Thank you.
Love it!
Thanks for this upload. More than a few items on your List definitely apply to me for both my home abroad and my home back in The States. I do enjoy a healthy obsession with decorative pillows 🤣, and do need to move a couple aside if several guests require use of my livingroom sectional...I do have decorative pillows on my beds, but they are not placed on the floor when preparing for bed...Thankfully, they do have a dedicated home, so there aren't any accidents at night 🤗...I'm WAY GUILTY on the "haven't used" items on your List; however, I live and work 11 months out of a year outside of The States, so all of my holiday decor and seasonal clothing back there isn't currently in play, but I believe I will use them again once I am back in my home country...While I am nowhere near being a minimalist, I have a great appreciation for the underlying philosophy and have intentionally decluttered, sold, gave away, and/or donated items that I know I'll never use again or that no longer brings me joy 😁
Oh yes, I would love more surfaces because every surface is filled to the max! 😃 I do live in a really small place though. ☹️
This was excellent! Clutter (my late father’s, and my partner and his teenage son) stresses me out. I can’t wait to move from my house to my own one-bdrm apartment. Already making a list of what I’m taking, room by room.
So exciting!
1) I like looking up organizational and decluttering information
2) My kid has some unplayed with toys - but I rotate them
That's not bad at all 😊
i have no junk drawer 😊
Great information! I'm getting there.
Three things you can never have enough of:
Toilet Paper
Tissues
Paper Towels
Just my option
Glad you enjoyed it!
Or books specially when u have 4 kidd and homeschool.
Ugh…this applied to me more than I’d like to admit 🤦🏻♀️
Well, you're not alone! :)
I feel like you are talking to me. I feel so guilty. Of all 50!! I know I need to change. I’m going to let go of things I don’t use. I have three blender and I only use one, one was a wedding present that I really love, and the other one my friend gave it to me it’s hard to let go! Or give it away and my daughter gave me a ninja blender for
Mother’s Day. So sentimental about them and I only use one. Listening to you it’s time to let go of things I don’t use. So thank you so much for helping me and others. 😘 Now you win a follower.
Thank you so much and welcome :)
I love this format! It also helps you see what current problems or annoyances you can look forward to being resolved if you declutter!
Haha true!
Your hair looks gorgeous! 🤩 Anyway, it seems I definitely have too much stuff! Shoving things into overfilled drawers, so relatable! 🤣 I'm working on decluttering.
Oh thank you! You've got this- you'll have to share your progress as you create some awesome spaces :)
@@MiaDanielle I've already started! I have an inspection next week! I'm taking Before & After pictures! Your video was very relatable! 😃
Too many of these shocked me, made me laugh, and are very much Me! Lol, my molehill must actually be a mountain. One item at a time
I've struggled with this all my life. There's been some improvement but still a long way to go. It's overwhelming and emotionally painful at times I've often thought I may be ADHD.
Omg...you just described me to the point🤔.
This hits the nail on the head.
Very good content & all spot on. Admitting I'm guilty of a few of them and it may be time to declutter a couple of areas.
Really like your top, very nice color, it looks good on you & with your hair!
Well, thank you :)
Love your video!!! I used to hoard furniture for a while; but. I discovered a great way to let go. A desk with a flip top I didn’t get to, went to a young single mom with a daughter. I painted the desk white, and then she could decorate the desk with whatever she wanted. She made it her own & it forged a friendship by building a bridge with something someone needed!
So awesome! Thanks for sharing :)
Here are my three……
1. Easily lose things in PLAIN SIGHT (even if I just had it in my hand a minute ago)
2. Often setting things aside to do later….for FAR too long
3. INTENDED use of a space has turned into storage
These three things are probably just specific things of more vague examples she gave in her list…..but they are specifically true for me lol
My Name is Katherine Meid. from Antioch Califorina.
Yes eveything u said about moving things around coughing and asthimia Thats me it hits home your right kmeid
I have 2 large dog beds and 3 smaller dog beds on the living room floor! They are for my 8 dogs plus 1 foster dog. And I have almost no wall space due to all the family photos. But these don't bother me. My guest room being used as an extra storage is my current decluttering project.
Sounds like you've got your priorities down 👊
The minute I ended this I turned around and Replayed it, Spot on
Awesome, I'm so glad to hear it 😊
I'm only halfway through viewing this, and it's already resonating with me!
Luckily I don't have a house I'm only 17 soon to be 18 and I declutter my room every week I'm very organized, tidy and keep on top of everything from financial to physical but I still feel like I have too much stuff even though all I have in my room furniture wise is my bed, chest of drawers and my stand for my TV with some DVDs and books underneath. I do have a wardrobe which was a cupboard in our hallway but we transformed it into a wardrobe so I could have space as a child. This was done when I was like 6/7 so over 10 years ago. However I feel like the drawers under my bed and the shelves I have to hide stuff behind my clothes rail in my cupboard stores sentimental things or games I store or can't get rid of. I really need to get rid of them and this really helps me so thank you! And thank you to everyone else. I'm so glad I'm not the only one💗
I think that it's amazing that you have such an interest in your space already! That didn't come to me until much later but I can imagine the awesome space you're going to have when you someday have your own place ❤️
Well watching this video make me see that I am almost there! 😀 I need to take care of my clothes and books and my niece’s toys. I do not have kids so my niece has a room in the house and it is very difficult for me to declutter toys because she wants to keep everything. Now I am using the keep away strategy! 😊 I put them away and if she does not ask for it in let see 2 to four
months then I give them away. 😊
Awesome!
"can't close my drawers"
Haha, there you go! That's one solution :)
Wow. I've got nearly all 50 . Subscibing
Welcome!
I need to have you come to my house and walk me through a declutter. You may be here for a while 😢
Yup, I have too much stuff.
Before the Chinese New Year, I threw away and gave away a lot of my old stuff. I always have this in my mind that somewhere somehow, someone will come across my things and they might find value in them. This thought always makes me not regret to let go of things I don't use anymore. One man's garbage is another man's treasure, so they say.
That's true, you never know when someone else might actually find value in your unused things
Some I’ve improved on in my journey. But some were zingers hitting that reality button for me! 😲Great motivation. As always, you nailed it!
Thanks Gypsy! I'm glad your enjoying the channel ❤️
I have too many things, but so far everything I've saved "just in case", I've used it. So that's a dilemma for me, because I don't want to have clutter but I don't want to have to constantly buy the same thing...
I think the answer to this is boundaries. Find a timeline of non-use that works for you and go from there
@@MiaDanielle Thank you!
I’ve been called out! 😂 Thank you!
You have just described my whole home. ☹️
Very comprehensive and helpful!
Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it
Hmm..i suddenly want to organize the sh*t out of my house..lol..id consideryself somewhat of a minimalist but the one about having to try on clothes ,dont know if they fit well hits home( single guy go figure ;). Its an issue, been needing to unload old non fitting pieces and go clothes shopping to refresh my options for some time now. Today may be that day, thx for the reminders...im a new sub now 😉👌
Thanks for subscribing!
And that's the hope ... that my videos + stories help you take inspired action in your own home!
Clutter...or undiagnosed adult ADHD....turns out that was my issue, once the ADHD is addressed progress starts to happen in so many other areas including clutter.
I'm happy to hear that you were able to find answers and were able to find a way that works for you!
I cleared out my closet and dresser 2 years ago. I was so proud of myself and it felt so good knowing that anything I pulled out of my closet would fit without a thought.
I now need to get my products listed before my husband declares me a hoarder and brings in a therapist.
Love that!
Great video! Still decluttering.
Thank you!
Great video as always!! Thank you so much ❤❤❤